THE LONG TERM RESULT S OF THE TREATMENT OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Objective: To evaluate the long -term results of penile prosthesis surgery in the management of erectile dysfunction. Patients and Methods: A total of 447 men had 504 penile prosthesis implanted between August 1975 and December 2000. Of these, 404 were primary implants and 43 secondary. The mean age of the patients was 52 years (range 21-78); 393 were malleable prostheses, 81 were 3-piece inflatable devices, and 30 were inflatable self-contained devices. The outcome was assessed from the medical records with a mean follow-up of 50 months (range 1-297). Results: Twenty -two patients were lost to follow up and 26 (5,8%) had their prosthesis removed and not replaced. The success rate of the primary operation was 90,8%, which decreased to 80,5% for the first revision and to 62,5% for second revision. The postoperative complications included infection (7,4%), erosion (4,7%), and cavemous crossover (0,9%). Overall, mechanical failure occurred in 21 prostheses (4,2%). The overall patient satisfaction was 84,7% with 94,5% of patients having regular sexual intercourse. Conclusions: The majority of patients (84,7%) who undergo penile prosthetic surgery are extremely satisfied with the result. The surgery is associated with a low complication rate and a good long term outcome.